SASKATOONEXPRESS.COM - September 12-19, 2011 - Page 25
Milwaukee
perfect for foodies
tion since 1938 and offers 600 varieties of
TRAVEL
cheeses, a selection of which was set out for
our tour group. It was 10 a.m. as we began
to munch our way through a dozen types
of cheese, including buttermilk blue cheese,
five-year-old cheddar, aged parmesan, and a
few exotic varieties, such as merlot, espresso
and, no kidding, chocolate cheese fudge.
“What many people don’t know is that
Peter
when immigrants first settled in Wisconsin,
Wilson
we actually weren't the Dairy State. Back
then, Milwaukee was the largest shipper of
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — In this wheat in the world — until insects ruined
city’s crowded public market, you can’t the wheat crops. Farmers then turned to
turn anywhere without facing delectable dairy cows and began producing milk,
food stalls, tempting bakeries and, being cheese and butter,’’ she said.
Milwaukee, wall to wall displays of seductive Cheese tasting done, we began a leisurely
smoked sausage. trek in search of new dining treats. This
So with this much fabulous food to dazzle time, Sciortino’s Bakery on Milwaukee’s
the senses, how come I find the first weigh Brady Street was high on Theresa’s radar Sciortino's bakery is a must on a trip to Milwaukee
scale I’ve ever seen outside a doctor’s office? screen. Opened by Peter Sciortino in 1948,
Not only that, this particular weigh machine it was purchased 10 years ago by the Vella
came complete with a guilt mirror focused family. The Sicilian family has kept tradi- Filled with a couple, or was it three, can- 43 pages of names beginning with “Sch,ˮ
menacingly at my waistline. tions alive by perfecting pastry specialties, nolis, I hurried after our group as it turned including five pages of Schmidts.’’
But Milwaukee is such a huge “foodie’’ including their famous cannoli, an Italian a corner to head down the road towards our In the late 1870s, 19-year-old Fred
city, it’s tough staying on the straight and dessert meaning "little tube." next stop. Usinger arrived in Milwaukee from Europe
narrow, especially if you plan on taking in The tube-shaped shell of fried pastry In 1946, Joe, Teddy, and Eddie opened with just $400 and some secret sausage
one of the popular tasting tours Theresa dough is filled with a sweet, creamy filling Glorioso Brothers, a small meat and grocery recipes. The young immigrant was hired to
Nemetz operates for visitors in her city. of ricotta cheese, a few chocolate chips, and market at 1020 E. Brady Street, in a neigh- work in a butcher shop that stood on the
Theresa and her husband own Milwaukee a half cherry on each end, said Theresa, no bourhood that drew many Italians. site of the store where he would eventually
Food Tours, which feature 2.5-hour low- stranger to these tasty treats. Surrounded by aromatic and savory build the store now operated by the fourth
impact walking tours where folks discover “The beauty of this bakery is that they fill aromas, we met Felix Glorioso, son of Joe generation sausage-making family.
Milwaukee's rich history and architecture, their shells on demand so they are crisp — Glorioso, who introduced us to the delights As we chewed our way through different
while sampling delicious tastings long the not soggy,’’ she says, offering a huge platter of his olives, salami and prosciutto. Olives sausage samples, Theresa explained some
way. From Italian bakeries, meat shops and of them for us to try. are a staple of Mediterranean cuisines and sausage trivia, such as to brat means “to
pizzerias to German eateries, cheese stores are often eaten as a snack, although cooks fryˮ and a “wurstˮ means sausage. Thus, a
and breweries, this walking tour is quite a use them to flavour everything from pizzas “Brat Wurst’’ is a fried sausage. A traditional
mouthful. to martinis, Felix said. bratwurst is simply pork and veal, ground up
I had taken a morning tour thinking I “Black olives stay on the tree until fully with spices, made into a sausage, and fried.
would be able to fit in lunch later at the ripened while green olives, which are more Selling 70 different kinds of old world and
city’s public market, another great hangout bitter, are picked while not fully ripe,’’ our contemporary sausages, the thriving Usinger
for food lovers. I should have known better. guide explained. store is still largely the same, right down to
My lunchtime introduction to the weigh Despite our steady intake of calories all its immaculate marble counters and floors.
scale, along with the volume of “snacks’’ I’d morning, my mouth was watering as he A couple of more stops, and a few hun-
eaten on my walking tour, ensured I wasn’t described the wonders of prosciutto, another dred more calories, and our delicious tour
going to be thinking food thoughts for a store specialty. “Try wrapping a slice around finished up at the Milwaukee Public Market,
while. fresh or dried fruit — with soft fresh pears where locally owned businesses sell a stun-
With its rich Italian, German, Irish and it,s amazing,’’ our genial host beamed. ning variety of fresh foods.
Polish immigrant history, Milwaukee has When Theresa gathered our group for its I have to say, Milwaukee Food Tours are
many stories of the city’s heritage to share next port of call, I’d lost track of where we a great way to discover the wonders and sur-
with visitors. Theresa’s tours provide the were, but judging by the names above the prises of a new city, but remember to wear
magic of discovery while savouring of the storefronts, we had crossed an international comfortable shoes, and stretchy pants. If you
flavours of Milwaukee's most delicious and border somewhere. As we ambled along, do visit the public market, the weigh scale is
historic neighbourhoods. Theresa told us that in 1990, a stunning 48 on the second floor, it’s easy to miss.
We began our tour at the Wisconsin per cent of Milwaukeeans claimed at least
Cheese Mart, which is housed in the old some German heritage. For information on Theresa’s tours, visit
Steinmeyer Building, constructed with terra “I,ve been told that if you have a chance www.milwaukeefoodtours.com.
cotta brick likely brought all the way from to take a peek inside a phone book while For more information on Milwaukee, check
St. Louis. The company has 1been in opera-PM
TFR2011_RunAD_Half_Sas_H.pdf 11-07-13 4:22 Peter checks his weight in Milwaukee, you will see that there are out www.visitmilwaukee.org.
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